POLICE BEAT: Laser hits pilot

A pilot with Air Canada reported being hit with a laser while en route to Campbell River at 8:10 p.m. Dec. 7.

The pilot said that while he was inbound and flying at approximately 2,000 feet he observed a green laser light coming from the ground and being directed at the aircraft. He was about 10 miles southeast of Campbell River at the time, according to RCMP Sgt. Craig Massey.

And while Massey said the light didn’t strike the pilot in the eyes, the incident is significant.

“It appeared to him to be directed towards the aircraft, and of course that always causes some concern,” said Massey, adding that police are unsure if the laser beam was intentional.

“We know that a short time later that same pilot flew back across that area and there was no similar sighting so if there was somebody doing it intentionally it doesn’t seem to have been a prolonged episode, but the actual intent of it is unclear.”

Anyone with information on this offence is asked to contact the RCMP.

Appointment missed, police called

Campbell River RCMP attended a residence on Shoreline Drive at 7:50 a.m. on Tues., Dec. 6. to check on a tenant who had missed a medical appointment.

An officer went to the residence and received no response. Neighbour enquiries further indicated that the occupant may have suffered some form of medical issue. The officer entered and found the 50-year-old tenant in serious medical distress. An ambulance transported the man to hospital.

RCMP Sgt. Massey said police were told the man’s condition has stabilized.

He did not know how long the man was in distress for before police showed up.

“He was in very serious medical distress when the officers got there,” said Massey.